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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                            FEBRUARY 13, 2026       |  The Indian Eye 28

               BAPS Sets Guinness World Record

                     for Largest Simultaneous Hindu

                                   Text Recital by Children

            OUR BUREAU

            Vadodara, India
                  he  grand  celebration  of  His
                  Holiness  Mahant  Swami  Ma-
            Tharaj’s birthday became a his-
            toric  global  moment  as  the  BAPS
            Swaminarayan  Sanstha  set  a  Guin-
            ness  World  Record  for  the  largest
            simultaneous  Hindu  text  recital  by
            children.  More  than  200,000  devo-
            tees from across the world gathered
            on  February  2,  2026,  to  mark  the
            occasion, which highlighted spiritual
            learning, discipline, and values-based
            education.

            The record was achieved when
            12,723 children recited the

            Satsang Diksha, a sacred
            Sanskrit scripture authored by
            Mahant Swami Maharaj. Guin-
            ness  World  Records  official-

            ly recognized the feat as the                                                                         sive organizational effort behind the
                                                                                                                  initiative.
            highest number of children si-                                                                            Although  the  event  took  place
            multaneously reciting Sanskrit                                                                        in India, its impact resonated deeply
                                                                                                                  within  Indian  American  communi-
            verses. A Certificate of Rec-                                                                         ties.  Parents  described  the  prepara-

            ognition was  formally  present-                                                                      tion  process  as  a  meaningful  alter-
                                                                                                                  native to screen-dominated routines
            ed to Mahant Swami Maharaj                                                                            common  in  modern  education.  Un-
            during the celebration.                                                                               like  classroom  environments  where
                                                                                                                  attention is often fragmented by dig-
                                                                                                                  ital devices, memorizing and reciting
                Inspired by Mahant Swami Ma-                                                                      Sanskrit  verses  required  sustained
            haraj’s  guidance,  a  total  of  15,666                                                              focus, discipline, and consistent prac-
            children between the ages of 3 and 13                                                                 tice over many months.
            successfully memorized and learned                                                                        Participants  echoed  those  sen-
            to  recite  the  complete  Satsang Dik-                                                               timents.  Param  Patel  from  Edison,
            sha  within  a  single  year.  Of  these,                                                             New  Jersey,  said  the  preparation
            12,723  children  participated  in  the                                                               challenged him initially but ultimate-
            live recitation in Vadodara, meeting   ipants included hundreds of children   personally  oversee  and  verify  the   ly built confidence. “At first I thought
            all  criteria  established  by  Guinness   from the United States and Canada,  attempt.  Following  a  rigorous  re-  it was too hard,” he said. “But once I
            World Records for verification.   reflecting the global reach of BAPS   view process that assessed accuracy,  finished, I felt proud. It showed me I
                The  Satsang Diksha  consists   and the increasing interest among In-  coordination,  and  compliance  with   can stick with something.”
            of  315  Sanskrit  shlokas  and  pro-  dian American families in traditional   record  guidelines,  the  officials  for-  Six-year-old  Anadi  Tailor  from
            vides practical guidance on spiritual   learning rooted in Hindu values.  mally confirmed the achievement as   Atlanta shared that memorizing the
            growth,  moral  conduct,  social  har-  Officials  from  Guinness  World   a world record, recognizing both the   verses helped guide her daily behav-
            mony,  and  disciplined  living.  Partic-  Records  traveled  from  England  to   children’s  dedication  and  the  exten-  Continued on next page... >>

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